The largest cichlid is Severum, aka false discus

If you enjoy bright, visually striking fish, you may be familiar with the cichlid family, which has a wide variety of beautiful species. The Severum, also known as the false discus, is one of the family’s shining stars. This fish is an intriguing option for aquarium enthusiasts because it enthralls with both its beauty and its size.

The South American rivers are home to the Severum, also known by its scientific name *Heros severus*. Its eye-catching patterns and colors, which range from reds and browns to greens and golds, make it simple to identify. Because of its round shape and similarities to discus fish, this fish has been given the moniker "false discus," but in terms of behavior and maintenance requirements, it differs greatly from discus fish.

The size of the Severum is among its most notable characteristics. In contrast to many smaller cichlids, the Severum has a large maximum length of 12 inches. Because of this, it can be seen as a striking focal point in larger aquariums, where its entire color and size spectrum can be appreciated.

The Severum is a great choice if you’re building up a new tank or want to give your existing setup some colorful character. When it comes to aquarium fish, its remarkable size and captivating appearance make it a show stopper. Just make sure you give it enough room and the ideal atmosphere to keep it content and healthy.

Origin and appearance

The South American reservoirs are the native habitat of Cichlasoma severum, a member of the cichlid family. The notes of Australian Johann Natterer, who found unusual fish living in the Amazon River basin, contain the earliest references to them.

Severum, however, is also present in other reservoirs. The primary habitats of cichlids are Brazil, Guiana, Colombia, Venezuela, and the upper reaches of the Rio Negro.

The distinctions between severus and discus become clear when compared visually. The discus and severum cichlid are shown in the picture on the right and left, respectively.

Heros severus has an appearance similar to members of the discus family (Discus Cichlid). It is frequently referred to as the "false discus" as a result. But true discus are substantially bigger than severums.

Severum, which translates to "stern, reserved" in Latin, is true to its name. The fish’s temperament and outward appearance both reflect this.

Cichlids have a round, flattened body that is blotched with brown and colored grayish-green. The fish can move through dense vegetation and overhanging tree branches with ease in the water because of their flattened bodies on the sides.

Fish take on a disc-like shape when housed in a large tank. Selected individuals’ colors vary greatly from those of natural ones.

Care and maintenance

These unassuming inhabitants are easy to maintain even by novice aquarists. The most important things are to select the appropriate container and adhere to the water regime’s fundamental specifications.

Due to its size, Cichlasoma severum requires an aquarium that is roomy and elevated. The size of the house determines the fish’s shape. The discoid body changes into an elongated one due to a low, constricted vessel.

Big fish in a roomy aquarium! Discard the myth that the fish’s growth is proportionate to the aquarium’s size!

The primary water parameters that guarantee one person’s comfortable existence are displayed in the table below.

Water volume (in liters per 1 individual) Temperature (°C) Acidity (pH) Hardness (dGH)
100 25-28 6.8-8.0 6-18

Replacing one fifth of the water on a regular basis is another crucial requirement. Renewing the liquid once a week is sufficient. An artificial reservoir needs to have a compressor that fills the water with oxygen and high-quality filters.

The fish would rather live in a shaded area than one with bright lighting. You can use leaves, scattered on the water’s surface, or surface-dwelling plants to reduce excessively bright light.

Because cichlasoma is so shy, it occasionally tries to jump out of the aquarium. For this reason, a lid needs to be placed over the reservoir.

Small pebbles, granite chips, or artificial soil with tiny pieces work well for tank decoration. The reservoir’s bottom can be zoned using stones and ornamental driftwood.

Since severum frequently eats or pulls out vegetation, it is preferable to select tough plants with strong roots.

Since severums are actual crushers, artificial plants are important to consider. Thankfully, they have a lot of options now!

The majority of aquarium fish eat similar diets to those of cichlids. Live food could be served on the severum menu:

  • bloodworms;
  • shrimp;
  • earthworms;
  • tubifex.

However, since plant food is what cichlazomas primarily eat in their natural habitat, plants should make up the majority of their diet. Severum won’t turn down chips, cereal, or dried food. Blanched lettuce and cabbage leaves, as well as chopped vegetables, can be added to fish meals to vary their diet.

Included in the meal should be spirulina or another high-fiber food.

Fish are given food multiple times a day. Setting aside one day each week for fasting won’t do any harm either.

Compatibility with neighbors

Cicglasoma severum is a species that is peaceful. But it’s best to pair them with fish of the same size. Small fish can be mistaken for food by Cichlazoma. This holds true for small goldfish, veil, neons, guppies, and tetras.

Severum gets along well with its big neighbors. Aggression can appear both among individuals and within a species. This typically occurs when the fish were not added to the aquarium simultaneously. Typically, the initial colonists reject the addition of new animals to their "group."

Some fish, in contrast to many others, can identify their owner. Their curiosity piques at his appearance, and they start to act more assertively. They behave differently and become more cautious when a stranger shows up. In the event that a stranger’s hand unexpectedly appears near the water, one may even attempt to attack it. Are you looking for more fascinating aquarium fish facts?

Diseases

Cichlasoma rarely become ill when given the right care and nutrition.

Fish that are too young or have low quality water can infect fish with ichthyophyria. The equiciliate ciliate is the virus’s causal agent. Principal indicators:

  • appearance of whitish tubercles covering the body;
  • loss of appetite;
  • change in behavior (pets become timid, move less);
  • scratching the abdomen on the ground.

The first line of treatment for this illness is a slow rise in water temperature. Subsequently, the water is changed, extracting the residual liquid and adding a new one. Patients are placed in a different container if at all possible. Numerous specialized medications are also available that kill parasites and disinfect the surroundings.

In Severum of Erosia, unfavorable environments lead to the development of the head. Ascertain it by looking for a hole on the pet’s head. Vitamin deficiency and a monotonous diet are the disease’s causes. The onset of erosion can also be caused by delayed water replacement.

The danger posed by aquarium inhabitants will lessen the exposure of newcomers during their quarantine. Make sure there are no infections before introducing beginners to the aquarium.

Propagation

If purchasing false discus is done with the intention of breeding fish, then purchasing heterosexual individuals right away makes sense.

When an adult, the male’s large dimensions and vivid color help to identify it. It is nearly impossible to tell a male severum from a female during the juvenile stage!

It is challenging to ascertain a severum’s sex on your own. The male and female have a lot in common. The female is smaller and less brilliant than the male, though there may be a tiny variation in size and color. Females have gills devoid of pattern and a dark spot adorning their dorsal fin. The anal and dorsal fins are shaped differently in males; they are sharper, and the forehead region is a little more convex. However, as they get older, these distinctions become less noticeable and can only be noticed by a seasoned aquarist.

Severums mature sexually between 1.5 and 2 years of age. They pick a pair for themselves during the "discus." Mating games precede spawning, with fish circling in the water and combining in a "kiss."

You can trigger sexual behavior and hasten the spawning process by raising the water’s temperature and adding more frequent changes to the liquid.

During this time, the "married" start acting more aggressively toward their family members and other aquarium occupants. It is advised to transfer them to a different container and establish unique circumstances, such as lowering the water’s acidity and hardness levels.

00:57

Cichlazoma require a smooth surface in order to spawn. The female lays her eggs on these, which could be flat stones or the aquarium’s walls. There can be anywhere from 300 to 1000 pieces of eggs.

Following the male’s fertilization of the clutch, the couple shares childrearing duties. Seven days later, the fry hatch. These days, the parents discard the non-viable eggs and give the fertilized eggs ventilation and fins.

Until they can swim and find food on their own, the hatchling fry are in their parents’ care. You can give the infants dry food made up of tiny fractions and microworms.

The infants grow very slowly. They will grow to a length of 1 cm in around 30 days. The color of the young severums will start to take shape at that same time.

The fry’s body is covered in vertical lines that help the young blend in with the surrounding vegetation. All but one of the stripes disappear by the time they turn one year old.

The Severum, also referred to as the false discus, is the largest species of cichlid fish that can be kept in an aquarium. This fish, with its striking size and vivid colors, not only makes a statement in any tank, but because of its particular needs and size, it also needs special attention. Aquarium enthusiasts can give the Severum the best habitat possible by being aware of its special needs, from its natural habitat to its food requirements. This majestic fish deserves it.

The color of severum in the wild is limited to shades of light brown and spotted brown. Many aquarium specimens that stand out for having more vibrant colors have been bred by breeders.

Those with green, gold, blue, red collars, and red spots are the most well-liked.

Golden severum

This species’ members got their name because of their yellow-colored scales. The dark severum lacks the dark stripes on its body that are present in most people. The severum gold has a golden tint due to the yellowish spots covering its lighter tail and dorsal fin.

Red pearl (Red Peart, Red Spot)

The red-pointed name, the second These unusually colored fish, with their bright yellow bodies and red dots resembling pearls, were given to Severum. Although most members of this species are albinos, some of them have so many red spots on their bodies that they turn a bright red color.

Green Guyana (Guyana)

The Guyana severum’s elegant, oblong body has a hint of green. The entire body is covered in stripes made of dark dots.

Red-headed (Rotkeil)

Red-shouldered is the Rotkeil’s second name. The red, wedge-shaped patch behind the gills is what gave this species its name. The remainder of the body has dark specks scattered throughout an olive or silver hue. This is one of the family’s most intelligent members.

Blue emerald (Santarem)

Severum santarem is a new species of the family that German breeders have bred. The fish are easily identified by their remarkably vibrant color, which shimmers in an emerald tone. The brightness scales will be preserved if specific additives are used when feeding these people.

Mouthbreede

The Motbrider’s scarlet abdomen is one of his distinguishing characteristics and the source of his name. The rest of the body has an olive-gold color. In adults, the caudal fin is surrounded by a black stripe.

Inirida

The dark stripes that surround the greenish body of this new species within the family are its defining characteristic. Inirida’s number of stripes sets it apart from its fellows. It has eight of them, compared to nine for the majority of this species’ individuals.

Chromolome severum is a vibrant and colorful addition to any aquarium. Also, the owners won’t have too much trouble because of the fish’s easy care requirements and peaceful disposition.

Reviews

I purchased two vivid yellow cichlid fish. To my pleasant surprise, the fish behaved calmly. They get along well with angelfish and don’t have any problems with their neighbors. Irina

I’ve had semens for a very long time. They multiplied as well, so there were several. Other fish, however, devoured the progeny. There are currently only two individuals remaining, but they appear to be of the same sex and do not appear to be reproducing. Andrey, 38, from Voronezh

For five years, my Severum has been alive. I’m not sure why, but there were only about three fish remaining. I’d like to purchase additional. They don’t cause any problems; the only thing is that they kill real plants, so I got them fake ones instead. Barnaul’s 56-year-old Natalia

Three sereums coexist with other fish in my 250-liter aquarium. I mostly feed them live food. You can hear them occasionally if you stand close to the aquarium because they make a guttural sound. Despite their tendency to gnaw plants, they are easy to maintain. Mikhail, a 46-year-old Kurgan

Feature Description
Common Name Severum
Scientific Name Heros severus
Other Name False Discus
Size Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
Color Varies from green to brown with red or yellow accents
Origin South America
Habitat Slow-moving rivers and lakes
Behavior Generally peaceful, but can be territorial
Tank Size At least 55 gallons (200 liters) recommended
Diet Omnivorous; eats pellets, live or frozen food

All things considered, the false discus, or Severum cichlid, is a notable example of one of the biggest cichlid species found in aquariums. It’s a fascinating addition to any large tank because of its amazing size, vivid colors, and unique behavior. If you want to keep a Severum, you must be ready for all of its requirements, which include having a roomy tank and compatible tank companions.

The Severum is a reasonable option for committed hobbyists due to its tolerance for a wide range of water conditions and generally peaceful behavior with other fish. But because of its size and propensity for territorial behavior, it works best in carefully designed aquariums where it can flourish without endangering itself or other fish.

All things considered, the Severum is an amazing fish that enhances home aquariums with beauty and a hint of the wild. It can develop into a magnificent centerpiece that highlights the grace and variety of cichlid species with the correct environment and care. Consider the benefits of introducing a Severum to your aquarium—it will be an enlightening experience that emphasizes the wonders of aquatic life.

Video on the topic

Cychlazoma Severum (False Discus)

Cychlazoma Severum or False Discus

False Discus or Cychlazoma Severum! Maintenance, feeding, breeding and types of Severums!

Cychlazoma Severum or False Discus!

What part of aquarium maintenance do you consider the most difficult?
Share to friends
Anton Popov

A professional aquarist with over 15 years of experience. Main specialization - marine aquariums and creating optimal conditions for keeping rare species of fish and corals. I am fond of aquascaping, actively participate in international competitions. I love to share knowledge and experience to help others create the beauty of the underwater world at home.

Rate author
InfoProekt24.com
Add a comment